A 35-year-old Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO), Adedeji Sesan, has been crushed to death by a vehicle while attempting to conduct a routine inspection along Hospital Road in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on Friday opposite Mega Primary School, where the deceased was reportedly on duty with his colleagues.
A viral video shared by Akure-based Crest FM on Facebook showed the officer trapped beneath the vehicle, while his colleagues and residents shouted in shock following the incident.
Eyewitnesses said the officer attempted to intercept the truck while it was moving in the fast lane but was unable to stop the vehicle before it struck him.
The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed the incident in a statement, disclosing that the driver had been arrested and detained.
Abayomi identified the vehicle as a white Mitsubishi van with registration number AGL 992 XX, allegedly driven by 37-year-old Ayoade Idowu, who resides on Gbogi Street, Akure.
He said preliminary information indicated that Sesan was conducting a routine patrol with his team when he flagged down the vehicle to inspect its particulars.
“The driver initially stopped but allegedly drove off when asked to produce the relevant documents, hitting the VIO official in the process,” the police spokesperson said.
According to him, the officer sustained serious head injuries and was immediately rushed to the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital, where the doctor on duty subsequently confirmed him dead.
His remains have been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Abayomi added that police operatives had visited the scene and commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The driver has been arrested and detained, while preliminary investigations are ongoing. Police operatives have visited the scene and commenced investigations. The case file is expected to be transferred to the Motor Traffic Division for further investigation,” he said.
The police spokesperson expressed the command’s condolences to the deceased’s family, colleagues and associates, assuring them that a thorough investigation would be conducted and appropriate legal action taken in accordance with the law.
He also urged motorists to remain patient, obey lawful traffic instructions and cooperate with authorised traffic enforcement officers.
“No road user should endanger the life of another in an attempt to evade routine checks or traffic regulations,” Abayomi warned.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to road safety, the protection of lives and property, and the maintenance of law and order across Ondo State.
